By PBR Staff

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 50 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage. The Top 50 teams are picked from all classifications, and are not divided up by class level. To see the entire list click here   

Team: Mountain View
Preseason Rank: 12
2016 Record: 21-4
Conference: 4A Northern
CHSAA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Brian Smela
Playoff Run: Lost to Erie 6-5 in 12 innings in the 4A Final 8 round.
2016 Final Rank: 4
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS:
Dylan Norsen, 3B/SS, No. 48 2017
Michael Felton, C, No. 23 2018
TJ Felton, OF No. 101 2017
Ivan Thomas, RHP, 2017

OTHER PLAYERS WHO MIGHT MAKE AN IMPACT:
Jace Suarez, RHP, No.158 2017

KEY PLAYERS LOST:
Taven Whitehurst
Holden Bernhardt
Locke Bernhardt

Stat Rat:  Mountain View got it done in 2016 with pitching and defense including a 1.56 ERA.  Mountain Ridge returns 3 pitchers from that team.

Bottom Line:  Mountain View has been a consistent player in the post season since 2013.  They have 3 trips to the post season in the last 4 years including a 4A State Championship in 2013.  Last year their season came to an end with a 6-5 loss in 12 innings to Erie in the 4A Final 8 round.  The Mountain Lions have a stacked group coming back and will be led by, Dylan Norsen whose 2016 season saw him hit, .576 with 38 hits and 16 RBI.  He will be joined at the plate by, Ivan Thomas, .338 with 23 hits, 19 RBI and 7 doubles, Michael Felton with 15 hits and 8 RBI and TJ Felton with 11 hits and 3 doubles.  On the mound, Mountain View will turn to Jace Suarez who was 3-0 last year with 21 innings pitched.  Thomas will also be given the ball and look for his 17 innings from 2016 to be increased in 2017.  Consistency both offensively and defensively is the key to Mountain View’s success, looking at who is coming back, we expect this trend to continue and for the Mountain Lions to be in contention in late May.